2019 Giro d'Italia Stage 12: Cuneo - Pinerolo 158km

[gregrowlerson]

I don't know, maybe I'm too pessimistic but I think everyone expecting fireworks will be disappointed. Domestiques are fresh, there is only one proper climb the whole day and frankly there is too little to gain to make taking those risks worth it. Like how big do you think gaps could be? If the stage works out absolutely brilliantly for a gc contender I still don't see him gaining more than 30 seconds on most other gc riders but for that you have to ride 20 kilometers on the flat using huge amounts of energy with three days in a row looming which all look more important than this one.

That's why you cram every single one of yer teammates in teh breakaway

Is that worth it though? I'd really save them for the following stages instead of letting them waste their energy on a stage where most likely nothing big is gonna happen anyway.

You can also increase gaps on the flat.

Friday is a pretty straightforward MTF in that regard, and Saturday could well be everything together on the San Carlo.

Man, I don't know. Of course if there is complete mayhem someone who is in front might be hard to catch for small groups behind or there could be tactical games behind, but I mean full mayhem? How often do we see full mayhem on the first mountain stage, how often do we see mayhem if there isn't a mtf, how often do we see full mayhem if additionally there are twenty flat kilometers at the end and how often do we see mayhem on a stage with three harder days following. I just don't see it.

But have we ever had three 'rest' days before such a stage? Perhaps a Landa or a Lopez will just feel so good that they will not be able to resist attacking, and really, those guys cannot let any opportunities to gain half or minute or more pass, given the amount of time that they are already behind.

 

[Robert5091]

Cycling Fans website have this profile which seems wrong - is this the original planned route? 146 km instead of 158 km -

edit - I see Eshnar had 146 km down for this stage too.

 

[Eshnar]

yes, it was the original plan. Today they will do 158 km

 

[King Boonen]

First (possible) good stage, first one I'll likely miss the action on.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Lol at thinking that anything could happen today. :lol: :lol:

Break will take it and a group of 30+ riders that includdes all favorites will come in together.

 

[spalco]

Lol at thinking that anything could happen today. :lol: :lol:

Break will take it and a group of 30+ riders that includdes all favorites will come in together.

Well, that is "something" compared to yesterday and the day before.

 

[fuiers]

Finally some mountains. Some riders like Yates will play it moderly safe today. Maybe give it a go but if he cannot drop Roglic and Nibali then I dont see him pushing for it. If the break survives then they will take it. Maybe Sunweb could try something. De Gendt will win a stage in this Giro but this is not the one.

 

[SafeBet]

That final brings back sad memories of 2016, when Moreno Moser got so close to his first (and last, apparently) GT stage win and threw it away.

 

[tobydawq]

Re:

That final brings back sad memories of 2016, when Moreno Moser got so close to his first (and last, apparently) GT stage win and threw it away.

He would still have lost that sprint to Brambilla (especially if he had needed to ride a bit hard to prevent Trentin from rejoining) if you ask me.

 

[Laplaz]

26 men break

 

[Red Rick]

2 Astana's
1 Movistar
1 Bahrein

 

[Rollthedice]

Big break established.

 

[Rollthedice]

Caruso from Bahrain, Boaro and Cataldo from Astana in the break.

 

[Laplaz]

Best placed rider in the break is Polanc, interesting. Who will chase now?

 

[ice&fire]

Re:

Best placed rider in the break is Polanc, interesting. Who will chase now?

Candidates are all non-attacking third tier GC riders ahead of him

 

[Red Rick]

Gap is 6 minutes already.

 

[Laplaz]

Nice tactics by UAE. Let's see when Jumbo will hit the front.

 

[Rollthedice]

Re:

Nice tactics by UAE. Let's see when Jumbo will hit the front.

Diabolic plan.

 

[Cinemaniak]

Re:

Best placed rider in the break is Polanc, interesting. Who will chase now?

What's the risk for the likes of Nibali, Mollema and Roglic? If Polanc wil take the Maglia Rosa, Jumbo-Visma can sit back and relaxt again tomorrow. UAE will have to work again

 

[HelloDolly]

UAE playing it correctly here ...they dont ride and still keep pink

Maybe better than if they do ride ??

 

[Red Rick]

+ Polanc is a better climber and could potentially sneak a half decent GC. He was 11th in 2017

 

[MartinGT]

Re: Re:

Nice tactics by UAE. Let's see when Jumbo will hit the front.

Diabolic plan.

By UAE? Why?

 

[HelloDolly]

UAE much better this year ..wonder if the addition of Stephens and Peiper has made the difference

 

[Rollthedice]

Re:

+ Polanc is a better climber and could potentially sneak a half decent GC. He was 11th in 2017

Yates is now about 8 virtual minutes down and no men in the break. Wouldn't it be wise for MS to work a bit?

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

+ Polanc is a better climber and could potentially sneak a half decent GC. He was 11th in 2017

Yates is now about 8 virtual minutes down and no men in the break. Wouldn't it be wise for MS to work a bit?

Probably too busy eating pringles for backstage pass to think about it.

Ideally should've just had Chaves in that break but now I think they should start riding before the gap gets really crazy